Ken wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 11:20 am
Also to point out the obvious. The city of Dallas is only about 28% non-Hispanic White. And the combined DFW metro area is only about 42% non-Hispanic White. That is what America looks like today. So you are probably right. There isn’t going to be demand for a tiny quirky rural sect of White folk with rigid inexplicable dress and customs.
Yes, I'm aware of the efforts by some to replace Americans with Latin Americans.
Valerie wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 7:07 am
Until you actually visit every Baptist Church, you cannot possibly know so while you can accuse him of throwing stones, realize you're throwing them as if you know-
Part of the problem is that our perception of Baptists is strongly influenced by the loudest voices in their camp, not the people who are quietly and faithfully following Jesus. So the bristles in our broad brush come from Jeffress, Mohler, Stanley, Warren, Washer, Huckabee, et al, and when we bristle at their positions on various issues we tend to impute those opinions to Baptists in general. That's not entirely fair since there's a range of diversity among Baptists, some of whom have their own disagreements with the people we regard as representative.
Others' perception of Anabaptists works the same way. Turtles, eh?
Yes, I'm aware of the efforts by some to replace Americans with Latin Americans.
Texas is part of Latin America. The original name of the state was Provincia de Tejas. The most significant rivers flowing through the state are the Brazos River (Rio de Los Brazos de Dios) and Rio Grande. The oldest major city is San Antonio. Spanish was spoken in Texas long before the first Anabaptists settled in North America.
You seem to be saying that it's somehow bad for America to have "white" people in it or to be majority white, and then are celebrating white people becoming a minority within Dallas city limits (although this isn't the case for the entire DFW metro area). Did I read you correctly, or am I misreading you?
Yes you are misreading me.
I’m not making any judgements whatsoever about race or culture.
I’m simply pointing out that a tiny religious group that is utterly wedded to inexplicable dress and customs originating from 17th Century Northern Europe is not going to have much appeal to people who do not share those traditions.
0 x
A fool can throw out more questions than a wise man can answer. -RZehr
Ken wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 12:25 pm
Yes you are misreading me.
I’m not making any judgements whatsoever about race or culture.
I’m simply pointing out that a tiny religious group that is utterly wedded to inexplicable dress and customs originating from 17th Century Northern Europe is not going to have much appeal to people who do not share those traditions.
Strangely enough, we get more traction overseas in places like Haiti than we would in a city composed of lots of people Northern Europe background. So no, that's not the "problem". Although it is interesting how, in my opinion, you apply a racial lens, as if people from other races couldn't possibly be interested in plain Anabaptism.
Ken wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 12:25 pm
Yes you are misreading me.
I’m not making any judgements whatsoever about race or culture.
I’m simply pointing out that a tiny religious group that is utterly wedded to inexplicable dress and customs originating from 17th Century Northern Europe is not going to have much appeal to people who do not share those traditions.
Strangely enough, we get more traction overseas in places like Haiti than we would in a city composed of lots of people Northern Europe background. So no, that's not the "problem". Although it is interesting how, in my opinion, you apply a racial lens, as if people from other races couldn't possibly be interested in plain Anabaptism.
You are the one who said it was about supply and demand and who made the argument that a tiny rural church in the middle of wheat fields many miles outside the DFW metro area represents an Anabaptist presence in DFW. The OP asked why Anabaptists have failed to reach the masses. The 8 million strong DFW area is a case in point.
0 x
A fool can throw out more questions than a wise man can answer. -RZehr
My guess on why any Christian group is not one that is growing by reaching anyone and everyone is that their perception of hell is not the one they profess to believe in their statements of faith. How can any believer not be engaged in doing their part to save others from this hell they claim to believe in (never ending conscious torment) and at the same time be loving everyone and wanting them to avoid such a place ? It doesn't add up but is a contradiction in belief and practise.
I am not one of those who is convinced of never ending conscious torment in hell for the vast masses of people who have ever lived on planet earth and could not agree to a statement of faith that has such a statement. However, even though I believe in a temporary punishment for those who reject God's gift of eternal life, what should drive me, if I have the love of Christ shed abroad in my heart, is a desire for everyone to go to this endless place of unspeakable bliss in a place referred to as heaven. Jesus is willing that none should perish. Is that how I feel about mankind.
So, what is it that keeps us from sharing the Gospel whenever and wherever we go ? I would be glad to hear from others on this.
Josh wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 9:56 am
I would doubt the commitment of people to being able to start and sustain a new church who can't commit to driving a 34 minutes to church on Sunday.
It is not about commitment. It is about seeing the kingdom of God grow and flourish in various pockets around Dallas / Ft. Worth.
I find the idea interesting, though, of expecting multiple Anabaptist families to uproot themselves and start a church in some location, on behalf of 1 family that apparently isn't willing to move 30 minutes away. (People in big cities frequently will move 30 minutes around for better real estate, new house, closer to job, etc.)
I do not advise people to plant a church on behalf of one or two families because often those families don't stay with the church long term anyhow. However, these families can be a catalyst for getting a scriptural church in their area, and facilitate the establishment of a church.
People need to have a vision for planting a church in an area for reasons other than the one or two families who express interest.
Valerie wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 8:17 amIf some have gone astray, look in your own camp- my former Amish friend updates me on bishops arrested for molestations, suicides, incest bring discovered, etc There is much "cover up".
Do you and your friend find such discussions to be spiritually upbuilding and do they help you draw closer to God? I would feel rather perverted if I were to start tracking such things among other denominations and then discussing them regularly with people who are neither part of the problem nor part of the solution.
It is primarily because he believed I was putting Anabaptists on a pedestal & was trying to discourage me from that direction. There are a lot of good things shared too about experiences with people doing the "people work".
Valerie wrote: ↑Wed Jul 03, 2024 8:17 amIf some have gone astray, look in your own camp- my former Amish friend updates me on bishops arrested for molestations, suicides, incest bring discovered, etc There is much "cover up".
Do you and your friend find such discussions to be spiritually upbuilding and do they help you draw closer to God? I would feel rather perverted if I were to start tracking such things among other denominations and then discussing them regularly with people who are neither part of the problem nor part of the solution.
It is primarily because he believed I was putting Anabaptists on a pedestal & was trying to discourage me from that direction. There are a lot of good things shared too about experiences with people doing the "people work".
I would view an ex Anabaptist discouraging people from following the path of Jesus about the same way I would an ex Christian or ex evangelical who is promoting atheism.
